In tailwheel configurations, instability on the ground is primarily due to the relationship between which two elements?

• A. Steering complexity
• B. Tailwheel angle to wind
• C. Relationship between the main wheels and center of gravity
• D. Wing loading

Answer: (C)

Ground stability for tailwheel aircraft is driven by the geometry of weight relative to the main landing gear. When the center of gravity sits behind the main wheels, the aircraft tends to pivot around those forward main wheels and the tail can swing or even the airplane can develop a ground loop if you mismanage steering or braking. That tendency to yaw or swing because of how the mass is distributed under the wheels is what makes ground handling in taildraggers inherently unstable. Other factors like steering complexity, wind angle, or wing loading influence handling, but they don’t define the fundamental ground instability the way the relative position of the center of gravity to the main gear does.